Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Do you think next year's iPhone will be USB-C, replacing Lightning? (after today's iPad event?)

  • Yes

    Votes: 96 61.9%
  • No

    Votes: 59 38.1%

  • Total voters
    155
What about an option in the poll to ditch the port altogether and go completely wireless charging?
 
What about an option in the poll to ditch the port altogether and go completely wireless charging?
No physical port would be a bad idea atm considering iOS devices don't have internet recover like Macs do. If you can't plug the device in to restore it you'd be left with an expensive paperweight if the os went funny and you couldn't fix the problem on the device itself.
 
I actually hope not.
USB-C cables are all fine and dandy, but the connector is biggger so the socket has to be bigger too which means size increase.
That's not the problem though. The problem is how fragile the sockets are - I've had to replace the USB-C daughter boards on my MacBook Pro and MacBook already and it hasn't been much more than a year (thank heavens for AppleCare). You can plug a Lightning cable in and literally hold the phone with it. A USB-C port would never stand that sort of wear and tear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter K.
No,
iPads, especially iPad pros have significantly different use case than iPhone. Notice how heavily apple emphasize on ‘comptuer’ during the event. They compare iPads to computers, not tablets, so it needs to connect to more stuff, professional stuff.
Maybe they will add proper file system to iPad next year?

Some may say apple want to keep the cable situation simple. But I don’t think that’s a very strong arguing point.
Look at Apple Watch, using an Apple Watch require you to carry 2 cables and apple did nothing about it.
Also, in apple’s mind, you may also be carrying a MacBook, so the usb-c cable is not an extra cable, it’s the one you are already carrying for their ‘computer’ devices anyway.
 
Look at Apple Watch, using an Apple Watch require you to carry 2 cable

That’s a great point…

It’s pretty interesting that if you’re all in on this ecosystem you can have three different types of cables needed when you travel, often with their own adapters.

This new wireless and modern future sure requires a lot of connectors and adapters and cables
 
What about an option in the poll to ditch the port altogether and go completely wireless charging?

I don’t think the battery technology is there yet to allow just wireless charging, plus, what would you do for restore or back up option if you had to connect to a Mac or computer via a cable?
 
i'll be disappointed if they don't.

it would be very nice to need only one charger and cable for the macbook, ipad AND iPhone.

and also the nintendo switch and its controllers ;)
 
I think there are a number of factors at play.

For USB C:

1. Apple is under new management
2. Faster and more capable
3. Is more compatable with devices
4. allows for faster charging methods.
Against

1. Bigger port
2. Apple has always wanted a proprietary system for its iPhones
3. The last port on the iPhone will soon be on its way out once more innovative wireless charging methods come into play.
4. less durable

[doublepost=1541017464][/doublepost]
what would you do for restore or back up option if you had to connect to a Mac or computer via a cable?

[doublepost=1541017699][/doublepost]
I don’t think the battery technology is there yet to allow just wireless charging, plus, what would you do for restore or back up option if you had to connect to a Mac or computer via a cable?

No physical port would be a bad idea atm considering iOS devices don't have internet recover like Macs do. If you can't plug the device in to restore it you'd be left with an expensive paperweight if the os went funny and you couldn't fix the problem on the device itself.

First off apple's business model would be better off since it can push backing up through the cloud.

Second, everyone seems to forget this but iTUNES WIFI SYNC does exist!!!! It's in your settings everyone, it never went anywhere!!!!!!

Lastly, a bricked iPhone in DFU rarely happens anymore. If there was ever a problem just take it to the apple store... just like you would a bricked apple watch. (also worth noting you can hard restore a macbook to stock settings via wifi) Its completely possible to implement wifi restore into an iphone.
 
Last edited:
YES. I believe next years iPhones will utilize USB-C connection. I hope that's the case. I love USB-C. I will be back here in less than a year to see if my prediction is true!
 
Most people I know only plug their iPhone in for charging and for this lightning is fine.

I personally plug mine in to my MacBook about 3 times a year, with iCloud backup and Photos there really isn't any need to. For me, Im not sure what extra functionality USB C would add!
 
Second, everyone seems to forget this but iTUNES WIFI SYNC does exist!!!! It's in your settings everyone, it never went anywhere!!!!!!


Apple support article says you need to connect a device to the computer/iTunes at least once to enable this feature though.
 
Whatever they use doesn’t bother me because I no longer use a cable unless I use CarPlay which is rare.
 
Apple support article says you need to connect a device to the computer/iTunes at least once to enable this feature though.
Obviously, if they go all wireless and intend to keep iTunes wifi sync, they would fix it.
 
I hope so. I don't want to have multiple cables. Having only USB-C to USB-C cables is the ideal goal.

Having said that, I use wireless chargers almost exclusively and sync via Wi-Fi (much slower yes, but I rarely sync). So for me personally, the type of connector on a phone doesn't matter much.
 
To be honest, I was quite shocked when Apple put USB-C on the new iPad Pro instead of lightning. But voila, Apple did it, for better or worse.

Now the question is, will the same thing happen to iPhones?

I have phones with USB-C, and personally I still prefer lightning anytime. USB-C is much larger, and has the stupid male connector inside the jack. That can trap dust easily, and drying the port from water exposure is a nightmare. Lightning is more straightforward male to female connectivity, nothing inside the jack, and it's much more compact as well.

But it wouldn't surprise me if Apple switched. It streamline their products with everything from Macs to iPads to iPhones having the same USB-C jack.

Or maybe Apple would eliminate the charging port altogether with wireless charging becoming more commonplace.
 
It would surprise me if they switch over.... right now anyway. Maybe sometime in the future.

Yes, going USB C would streamline the product line, but lose them a significant revenue stream in licensing and selling their proprietary connector.

The iPad looks like it will begin having a different use case (attaching peripherals, monitors etc) and is physically larger, so it made more sense to make a switch there.

At this point, I hope they do not switch. I have sooooo many lightning cables already, and I also think they are a superior choice, for what a phone does anyway.

Oh, and we are a ways away from eliminating a physical charging port also.
 
It's highly unlikely that they will switch the iPhones to USB-C over the next year or two. However, I think it will come at some point, but Apple has been unpredictable here recently so who knows for sure? I think it would be great if they would.
 
I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple goes from lightning port straight to no port at all on iPhones : )
 
  • Like
Reactions: akash.nu
I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple goes from lightning port straight to no port at all on iPhones : )

I am surprised how many people still uses cables to connect to computers with phones, but I think that would be a nail in the coffin if they did that.
 
God I hope not. The usb c connection is trash in a phone. Decent on macbooks and iPad.
 
Personally I’m baffled they did not go with USB-C in the new iPhones knowing that the new iPads had already been switched over and their laptops already use it. It be uniformity over their product range.

Personally I would have preferred it as I’m looking to get the new iPad possible and it would mean I could use the same cables on both my iPhone Xs Max and iPad Pro.
 
To be honest, I was quite shocked when Apple put USB-C on the new iPad Pro instead of lightning. But voila, Apple did it, for better or worse.

Now the question is, will the same thing happen to iPhones?

I have phones with USB-C, and personally I still prefer lightning anytime. USB-C is much larger, and has the stupid male connector inside the jack. That can trap dust easily, and drying the port from water exposure is a nightmare. Lightning is more straightforward male to female connectivity, nothing inside the jack, and it's much more compact as well.

But it wouldn't surprise me if Apple switched. It streamline their products with everything from Macs to iPads to iPhones having the same USB-C jack.

Or maybe Apple would eliminate the charging port altogether with wireless charging becoming more commonplace.

ipad pro is for professional users. they may need to connect their ipad to larger screens, external storage, devices such as camera and card readers. usb c helps improve connectivity. you can share cables and devices with your computers (mac or windows both use usb c). it will be a real nightmare if the ipad pro has a different port.

iphones dont really have the same consideration, so idk if they will change the port quickly, but i really agree with mr c. and regarding the dust and water exposure, if android phones have ip68 rating, i dont think usb c and lightning will have any real world difference.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.